Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
Size:
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 196 pounds
Arm Length: 30 7/8"
Hand Size: 8 1/2"
Accomplishments:
3-star recruit
“Kamal Hadden is a cornerback with NFL size and the scheme versatility to make competitive and impactful plays on the outside.”
Strengths:
Physical press-man
Coverage versatility
Disruptive at catch point
Football IQ
Concerns:
Hip stiffness; segmented transitions
Block shedding in run game
Long speed, athleticism
Film Analysis:
Kamal Hadden is a big, physical cornerback who loves to re-route receivers with strong jams at the line of scrimmage and in off-coverage. He thrives when allowed to dictate the action and be the aggressor. He is a timing-based disruptive defender who uses his frame and play strength to crowd receivers early in routes.
Hadden has a good football IQ in both man and zone coverages. His IQ is on display by using leverage to his advantage and reading route concepts from a distance. Hadden has good “zone eyes” to read the action in front of him and play over the top to limit yards after the catch. His competitiveness shows up at the catch point. He attacks the receiver’s hands or “pocket” with ferociousness and violence to force incompletions and drops. He attacks the catch point on underneath and down-the-field throws.
Hadden is not a great or explosive raw athlete. If he cannot slow down quick-twitch receivers with his hands, staying in phase vertically can be a task. He will benefit from having safety help to allow him to play trail technique in man coverage schemes at the next level. There is hip stiffness that causes segmented transitions in coverage when a receiver or play changes directions quickly. At times, he panics on downfield throws, forcing him to be handsy and opening him up to being called for holding/DPI. His run support, block shedding, and trigger is not enthusiastic.
Overall, Hadden projects as a backup/rotational cornerback with roster-caliber talent. He fits multiple/versatile coverage schemes. In the right situation, Hadden can earn a starting role in a defense.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: South Carolina (2023), Virginia (2023), Alabama (2023)
